Self-healing communications network

ABSTRACT

The present invention encompasses methods, apparati, and computer-readable media for detecting and removing unwanted loops in communications networks having host processors ( 10 ), nodes ( 16 ), and segments ( 14 ) connecting the nodes ( 16 ). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of collecting and storing a set of steady state data regarding direction of network ( 1 ) traffic flow through the nodes ( 16 ) and segments ( 14 ) for at least one network flow; comparing newly sampled flow with stored steady state data to detect flows whose paths contradict their steady state direction; and identifying a network loop when a segment ( 14 ) carries such contradictory flows.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention pertains to the field of communications networks, such as digital packet networks, and, in particular, to the problem of unwanted network loops.

BACKGROUND ART

Unwanted network loops are a common problem in large and small communications networks. Such loops can cause network broadcast storms, resulting in significant deterioration of network bandwidth and performance. Such storms can flood the host processors with duplicate packets, resulting in wasted CPU utilization on said hosts. These problems are addressed by the present invention.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention encompasses methods, apparati, and computer-readable media for detecting and removing unwanted loops in communications networks having host processors (10), nodes (16), and segments (14) connecting the nodes (16). A method embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of collecting and storing a set of steady state data regarding direction of network (1) traffic flows through the nodes (16) and segments (14) for at least one network flow; comparing newly sampled flow with stored steady state data to detect flows whose paths contradict their steady state direction; and identifying a network loop when a segment (14) carries such contradictory flows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other more detailed and specific objects and features of the present invention are more fully disclosed in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is topological sketch of a typical network 1 of the prior art that can fruitfully employ the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sketch of the network 1 of FIG. 1 showing a broadcast flow emanating from host processor 10(A).

FIG. 3 is a sketch of the network 1 of FIG. 2 in which a loop is present due to a new segment 14(5,6) arising between switches 12(5) and 12(6).

FIG. 4 illustrates the network of FIG. 3 in which loop pointers 17 of the present invention collectively point to the loop.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method embodiment of the present invention in which intentional network 1 reconfigurations are distinguished from unwanted loops.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This invention allows unwanted network loops to be precisely detected and identified. The obtained network loop information can be used to instigate remedial action to remove the loop. This procedure can be automated, resulting in a self-healing as well as a self-diagnosing network.

This invention is applied to a Layer 2 data network for purposes of illustration. The applicability of the present invention is not limited to Layer 2 digital networks. It can also be used with L3 digital networks, digital networks other than L2 and L3 networks, and analog networks. For digital networks, the data does not have to be packetized, as long as the flows can be differentiated by observing the data.

This invention can correctly distinguish between intentional network reconfigurations and network loops (see FIG. 5). This capability minimizes false positives.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated herein, packet sampling is used to collect information about the real-time state of the network 1. The packet samples can be obtained via any existing mechanisms that allow for the sampling of flows, such as the processes (programs) sflow, netflow, or others. As used herein, “traffic flows” are streams of traffic (moving data) that share similar characteristics (for example, source 10 and destination 10). The flow information collected from the samples over a period of time when no loop exists is called the “steady state information”.

In this steady state, the network 1 can be represented as a tree, with no closed data paths (loops), as illustrated in FIG. 2. For every flow of traffic, a path can be traced from source 10 to destination 10. This path can be broken into individual segments 14 that connect nodes 16 (each port of a switch 12 present in the network 1 is a network node 16). For each traffic flow, traffic can legitimately flow only in a single direction along each segment 14. This direction is learned and recorded in the steady state.

In a centralized embodiment of the present invention, this recorded state is collected and stored on a network management computer (processing entity) which processes the sampled packets. A host processor 10 can perform the duties of the processing entity. In an alternative embodiment, the processing entity can be a separate collector 11, in which case the collector 11 can be connected to the network 1 via any type of connection.

A network storm can occur when an unwanted closed loop path is created in the network 1. Packets can travel in a closed loop along this path indefinitely. This is more fully described below in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 4. When an unwanted loop arises, the uni-directional nature of flows in many segments 14 gets violated: these segments 14 carry bidirectional flows for the same overall network flow. The flows start taking paths that contradict their steady state direction. This violation of direction of flows can be detected by using the stored steady state information and comparing it with the newly sampled packet information, which is sampled for every port (node) 16 in both the ingress and egress directions.

This invention introduces the concept of a loop pointer 17. A loop pointer 17 is a directional pointer which is local to every segment 14. All pointers 17 point to the direction of the loop in the network 1.

Every time a contradictory packet sample is detected, i.e., one which violates the stored steady state direction of that particular flow on a particular segment 14, a loop pointer 17 is created for that segment 14. This loop pointer 17 points in the direction opposite to the direction of transit of the contradictory packet sample.

Over the course of time, unwanted loops in the network 1 result in creation of a set of loop pointers 17. These loop pointers 17 form a sequential linked list which passes through nodes 16 in the network 1. The loop pointers 17 get generated all across the network 1. All the loop pointers 17 in network 1 always point to the direction of the loop, regardless of the number of flows being analyzed, and regardless of where in the network 1 the pointers 17 are located. In these multi-flow scenarios, the loop pointers 17 always point and lead to the loop, in spite of being created by different traffic flows.

Note that loop pointers 17 get created only for flow information that contradicts the steady state information, not for flow information that agrees with existing steady state information.

In the centralized embodiment of the present invention, the loop location information is collected from the distributed nodes 16 (or from the routers or switches 12 associated with said nodes), but is stored and processed collectively by a single network management entity (processing entity) 10, 11.

In an alternative embodiment (the “distributed” embodiment), the storing and processing of the steady state information is performed in a distributed fashion. In this embodiment, a software, firmware, and/or hardware module associated with each node 16 determines whether there is a bidirectional flow on a segment. A loop pointer 17 is hence generated on that segment. The module can declare the presence of a loop pointer 17 and pass the information in the direction of the loop pointer 17 to the peer node 16 at the other end of the segment 14. Furthermore, once the span of the loop is identified, any of the nodes 16 present in the loop can break the loop and thereby end the storm.

Using predefined rules, the network management host 10 or collector 11 (in the centralized embodiment), or the networking nodes 16 (in the distributed embodiment), can diagnose and terminate the network 1 loop in a completely autonomous manner. This invention is therefore self-healing as well as self-diagnosing.

The centralized and distributed embodiments are not mutually exclusive; they can operate simultaneously.

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary prior art network 1 having six switches 12 and eight host processors 10. FIG. 1 shows a L2 digital packet switching network, for purposes of illustration only. All ports 16 in all six switches 12 have sampling enabled in both the ingress and egress direction. All samples are sent to a single collector 11 in this example. Collector 11 is shown with just a single dashed lead line, even though it is connected to all nodes 16, to avoid cluttering the drawings. For this special case where collector 11 is used, typically all the method steps described herein are performed by collector 11 as the processing entity.

Each port 16 is referred to as a node in the network 1, and a link connecting two nodes 16 is referred to as a segment 14. Segments 14 can be physically embodied through any current or future means, including copper wires, microwave signals, optical cables, etc. FIG. 1 shows segments 14 as solid lines to indicate that the paths exist, regardless of whether any actual traffic is flowing on the paths. Segments 14 can also be a logical connection between two nodes 16, rather than a physical link. For example, one embodiment of the invention detects loops within individual VLANs.

FIG. 2 shows (by means of dashed lines) the steady state direction of traffic flow for a broadcast frame (single flow) from source host processor 10(A). The broadcast message is sent to all hosts 10 in the network 1. The packets for this flow are sampled at a preselected sampling rate by the nodes 16, which send these samples to the collector 11. The information collected from the samples gets recorded in the collector 11. This body of information is called the steady state information. The collector 11 records the direction of flow in each segment 14 for a particular traffic flow.

FIG. 3 shows that a new unwanted connection 14(5,6) has arisen between switches 12(5) and 12(6). This can occur by virtue of a bad design or human error, or a combination of the two, e.g., a software error, and creates a new closed loop path. The unwanted loop goes via switches 12(4), 12(5), and 12(6), with the newly formed connection 14(5,6) completing the loop. In FIG. 3, note the new dashed lines between ports 16(6,1) and 16(6,2), and between ports 16(5,1) and 16(5,2), which complete the loop.

FIG. 4 shows that the newly introduced loop causes the broadcast traffic from host 10(A) to be looped back into the network 1 for this particular flow. In FIG. 4, this contradictory flow is indicated by dashed lines having shorter dashes than the dashes in the lines that indicate the original flow. This contradictory flow originates at two places:

-   -   At switch 12(5) port 16(5,2).     -   At switch 12(6) port 16(6,2).

Only one flow is illustrated in FIG. 4, to avoid cluttering the drawing, but in practice, a loop can be detected by observing one network flow or several network flows. During the preselected sampling period, just one host 10, or more than one host 10, can be sending data over the network 1.

Switches 12(5) and 12(6) treat the looped-back traffic as broadcast traffic entering the switch 12(5), 12(6), and hence send the looped-back traffic all over the network 1. The broadcast traffic not only gets sent all over the network 1, but also keeps looping in the path connecting switches 12(4), 12(5), and 12(6). This results in a packet storm.

During the storm, the contradictory direction of flow on the sampled packets collected on the segments 14, when compared by processing entity 10, 11, 16 with the direction of flow from the saved steady state, results in the processing entity 10, 11, 16 generating a set of loop pointers 17.

After a certain period of time (based upon system parameters such as sampling rate), the loop pointers 17 will trace one or more paths starting from host 10(A) and leading to the loop. In the FIG. 4 example, the loop pointers 17 trace two paths that end at the loop:

PATH 1: Switch 12(1)→Switch 12(3)→Switch 12(4) (port 16(4,1))→Switch 12(6) (port 16(6,1))→Switch 12(5) (port 16(5,2)) PATH 2: Switch 12(1)→Switch 12(3)→Switch 12(4) (port 16 (4,1))→Switch 12(5) (port 16 (5,1))→Switch 12(6) (port 16 (6,2))

A characteristic of this invention is that a flow's loop pointers 17 split when they enter the loop and meet again to complete the loop. So in the above case, the loop pointers 17 in PATH 1 and PATH 2 split at switch 12(4) (port 16(4,1)) and join back to complete the loop at switch 12(5) (port 16(5,2)) and switch 12(6) (port 16(6,2)). Using this information, the processing entity 10, 11, 16 detects the loop.

The processing entity 10, 11, 16, whether in the centralized or distributed embodiment, is able to autonomously detect the new segment 14 that caused the loop. In the present example, the link 14(5,6) connecting ports 16(5,2) and 16(6,2)) is automatically identified as the cause of the loop. The attributes that identify the bad segment 14 are:

-   -   The bad segment 14 sends samples with contradicting direction         information for a traffic flow.     -   The bad segment 14 does not have a steady state.

These two conditions are met only in the case of a new segment 14 which creates a loop, and result in two loop pointers 17 for said new segment 14 that point in opposite directions. These attributes allow the locational cause of the loop to be uniquely identified.

During a storm, there is a high likelihood of packet loss, and hence reliable transport of sample packets to the collector 11 is needed. This can be accomplished by two methods:

-   -   1. Use of an out-of-band management VLAN (virtual local area         network) to send the sampled data to the collector 11. Since         this VLAN is not part of the storm, it should be unaffected. The         VLAN monitors the network 1 in the form of a software overlay.     -   2. Prioritization of the sampled packets based upon information         contained in the packet headers. This increases the likelihood         of the sampled packets surviving the storm and reaching the         collector 11.

The loss of a few samples will not affect the ability of the algorithm to detect the loop; the only effect will be to delay the detection process.

In the distributed loop detection embodiment, loop detection is performed at each individual networking node 16 (whether associated with a router or switch 12), or by the associated router or switch 12 itself. The elements 16 in this embodiment are thus all contained within the network 1, and there is no single point of failure. This embodiment requires no external collector 11 or other entity, and implements a network 1 that can self-heal.

In a preferred distributed embodiment, a process (normally a software module) on or associated with each networking node 16 collects the samples, and extracts the flow and direction information. The process detects events that result in loop pointer 17 creation, as described in conjunction with FIG. 4, and communicates with peer processes running on directly connected (peer) nodes 16. The instant the process detects a contradictory flow, it sends a message to the peer 16. This loop pointer message contains information regarding the flow that resulted in loop pointer 17 creation. This message is sent only on the link 14 in which the loop pointer 17 was observed. These messages are sent in the direction of the loop pointers 17.

Every loop pointer 17 results in a message being sent to the connected peer node 16. Eventually the message will reach a node 16 that also has a loop pointer 17 in the opposite direction for a particular segment 14. In FIG. 4, this event happens only on port 16(6,2) and port 16(5,2). The existence of loop pointer messages in both directions for a segment 14 indicates a complete loop. The steps up to this point constitute a loop detection mechanism.

For all centralized and distributed embodiments described herein, the processing entity 10, 11, 16 can remove the network loop in two different ways:

-   -   Link down (break) the newly created link 14 that caused the         loop.     -   Link down on the lowest bandwidth link segment 14 of the loop.         This stops the loop, but advantageously keeps the high bandwidth         part of the network 1 active. For this purpose, “lowest         bandwidth” refers to the bandwidth of the segment 14 without         regard to the amount of traffic that is actually carried by this         segment 14.

The processing entity 10, 11, 16 can differentiate an unwanted network loop from an intentional network reconfiguration, as illustrated in FIG. 5.

When a network 1 is reconfigured by the system administrator, a host 10 connection could be changed to a different switch 12. Therefore, the host 10 could send traffic in a different direction, which could be the opposite direction in which it sent traffic originally. We don't want this phenomenon to trigger a false positive declaration of a network loop.

The processing entity 10, 11, 16 differentiates between an intentional network reconfiguration and a network loop using the following rules. An intentional network reconfiguration is diagnosed when:

-   -   1. New samples of a flow in the steady-state direction reduce to         zero over a preselected period of time, and     -   2. New samples of a flow in the opposite (to steady-state)         direction increase over said preselected period of time.

A network loop is diagnosed when the following contradiction continues:

-   -   1. New samples of a flow in the steady-state direction continue         to be recorded at the end of a preselected period of time, and     -   2. New samples of a flow in the opposite (to steady-state)         direction also continue to be recorded at the same point in time         as in criterion (1); and     -   3. Criteria (1) and (2) samples persist as long as the loop         exists in the network 1.

When the above three conditions are met, a network loop is indicated. Using the above described rules, the processing entity 10, 11, 16 differentiates a network loop from an intentional network reconfiguration. FIG. 5 illustrates method steps that accomplish this.

The method steps illustrated in FIG. 5, as well as all the other methods illustrated and described in this specification, are performed by one or more modules associated with the processing entity 10, 11, 16. The modules are implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. When the modules are implemented in software, said modules can reside on one or more computer-readable media as a series of computer program instructions. The computer-readable media can be any means for storing computer program instructions, including hard disks, floppy disks, optical disks, CD's, DVD's, thumb drives, etc.

The method of FIG. 5 begins at step 51, where the processing entity 10, 11, 16 receives a sample of a particular flow, which, for purposes of illustration, is called flow X.

At step 52, the processing entity 10, 11, 16 makes a determination as to whether the sample is flowing in the same direction as recorded previously in the steady state. If the answer to this is “yes”, the processing entity 10, 11, 16, at step 53, sets a parameter called Regular_Flow_Received to TRUE. If the answer to the question posed in step 52 is “no”, a parameter called Contradictory_Flow_Received is set to TRUE, and the parameter Regular_Flow_Received is set to FALSE.

The method then proceeds to step 55. The processing entity 10, 11, 16 inquires as to whether the parameter Regular_Flow_Received is TRUE and whether the parameter Contradictory_Flow_Received is also TRUE. If both of these answers are “yes”, signifying the presence of a loop, the method proceeds to step 56. Otherwise, the method loops back to step 51.

At step 56, the counter Loop_Detect_Count is incremented, Regular_Flow_Received is set to FALSE, Contradictory_Flow_Received is set to FALSE, and the method proceeds to step 57.

At step 57, the processing entity 10, 11, 16 inquires as to whether the counter Loop_Detect_Count exceeds a preselected threshold. This threshold is set empirically, and is set sufficiently high to minimize false positive determinations of network loops. If the answer to the question raised in step 57 is “yes”, the method proceeds to step 58, where it is verified that there was, in fact, a network loop. At this point, appropriate self-healing steps can be taken to eliminate the loop.

If the answer to the question posed in step 57 is “no”, the method circles back to step 51.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments, and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for detecting unwanted loops in a communications network having host processors, nodes, and physical or virtual segments connecting the nodes, said method comprising the steps of: collecting and storing a set of steady state data regarding direction of network traffic flow through the nodes and segments for at least one network flow; comparing newly sampled flow with stored steady state data to detect flows whose paths contradict their steady state direction; and identifying a network loop when a segment carries such contradictory flows.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein: a loop pointer is generated for each segment carrying such contradictory flows; and the loop pointers point to the unwanted loop.
 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the method steps are performed by a host processor.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the method steps are performed by a collector computer other than a host processor.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the collector computer is coupled to the network via any form of data connectivity.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the method steps are performed by modules associated with each node.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein: a module associated with each node determines whether there are such contradictory flows at that node; a first node experiencing such contradictory flows determines whether said node is connected to a second node experiencing such contradictory flows; and when modules associated with the first node and the second node determine that each node is experiencing contradictory flows on the same connecting segment, then a module associated with at least one node breaks the segment.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the segment that is broken is the segment connecting the first node and the second node.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the steady state data is collected by a flow monitoring process from the group consisting of sflow and netflow.
 10. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of disabling the segment carrying the bidirectional flows.
 11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of breaking a lowest bandwidth segment of the loop.
 12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of differentiating between an intentional network reconfiguration and a network loop.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein an intentional network reconfiguration is detected by observing the following two conditions: new samples of a flow in a steady state direction reduce to zero over a preselected period of time; and new samples of the flow in an opposite direction increase over said preselected period of time.
 14. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is a digital packet network.
 15. The method of claim 1 wherein the network is an analog network.
 16. The method of claim 1 wherein a network flow contains information uniquely identifying said flow.
 17. A method for automatically healing a communications network experiencing an unwanted condition, said network having nodes coupled by segments, said method comprising at least one of the following steps: disabling a newly introduced segment that has a created a loop within the network; disabling a lowest bandwidth segment of the loop.
 18. At least one computer-readable medium comprising computer program instructions for detecting unwanted loops in a communications network having host processors, nodes, and segments connecting the nodes, said instructions adapted to effectuate the following method steps: collecting and storing a set of steady state data regarding direction of network traffic flow through the nodes and segments for at least one network flow; comparing newly sampled flow with stored steady state data to detect flows whose paths contradict their steady state direction; and identifying a network loop when a segment carries such contradictory flows.
 19. Apparatus for detecting unwanted loops in a communications network containing nodes and segments connecting the nodes, said apparatus comprising: means for collecting and storing a set of steady state data pertaining to direction of network traffic flow through the nodes and segments; coupled to the collecting and storing means, means for comparing newly sampled flows with stored steady state data to detect flows whose paths contradict their steady state direction; and coupled to the comparing means, means for detecting a network loop when a segment carries such contradictory flows. 